Stronger together

The 2018 Women Chainmakers’ Festival celebrates the 1910 victory of over 800 chainmakers’ from Cradley Heath, who after a ten week long strike won the first ever minimum wage in Britain, that doubled their wages overnight. The family festival celebrates this historic victory made in Sandwell and is the only festival that celebrates women fighting …

A local agreement on pay has been reached with Sandwell College which will put more money into members pockets as well as secure the Foundation Living Wage for the lowest paid. The deal is as follows:- Year 1 (1 August 2017): 2.25% consolidated increase on all pay scales (including 1% already paid from 1st August …

UNISON took part in the first ever Workers’ Memorial Day event held in Sandwell on 27 April. Speakers from our sister trade unions also attended. Cllr Steve Trow also gave his commitment to continue to work with trade unions to make workplaces as safe as possible.

Permanent link to this article: http://sandwellunison.co.uk.c31.sitepreviewer.com/remember-the-dead-fight-for-the-living/

Sandwell Children’s Trust was launched on 1 April 2018, which saw over 400 staff transfer from Sandwell MBC to the Trust. Your UNISON representatives have been negotiating the best possible terms to transfer on. Attached is a copy of the agreement. In summary your employment rights, length of service conditions, pensions and pay have all …

UNISON nationally has voted to accept the employers pay award offer for 2018-20 for staff on NJC terms and conditions. This affects most support staff in schools, council workers, and those outsourced bodies that follow the NJC pay awards. It is anticipated that the award will be received in May’s pay packets – backdated from …

Sandwell Leisure Trust on 19 March signed up to the TUC’s Dying to Work Charter that promises to treat any workers unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with a terminal illness with dignity, as outlined in the Charter.

Permanent link to this article: http://sandwellunison.co.uk.c31.sitepreviewer.com/slt-sign-up-to-charter/

A picture of images from a more youthful Manny Bueno was a surprise gift to him at the AGM. The picture was presented by Tony Barnsley, current Branch Secretary and Mike Roberts, former Branch Secretary of UNISON (and before that NALGO) when Manny was Assistant Branch Secretary. We wish him well in retirement and thank …

Sandwell UNISON’s AGM voted unanimously to support the forthcoming national demonstration against racism. See below for the flyer. The AGM also voted to support the Birmingham United demonstration on 24 March in opposition to the FLA’s plan to march through Birmingham.

Permanent link to this article: http://sandwellunison.co.uk.c31.sitepreviewer.com/agm-votes-to-support-anti-racist-demonstrations/

Thanks to all members who returned ballot papers in the recent consultation on the 2018/20 pay offer for staff working in schools and local government. Sandwell’s results were as follows: 245 voted to REJECT the offer (45%) 294 voted to ACCEPT the offer (55%) These results have been forwarded to the Region. As soon as …

Sandwell UNISON activist, Shazziah Rock, spoke at the national demonstration in support of libraries, museums and culture on Saturday 3 November. Pictured in the Guardian newspaper website on Monday 5 November, Shazziah, placed Sandwell UNISON firmly at the front of the action.

‘The players, coaches and parents would like to thank Sandwell UNISON for their sponsorship for last season which enabled the club to purchase a new kit to allow the children to continue playing. As a thank you we have had the UNISON logo printed on the kits and also presented UNISON with a glass trophy …

Assistant Branch Secretary for Education, Louise Harrisen-Powis, met Jeremy Corbyn in Halesowen town centre on Saturday 29 September, after he made a rousing speech to hundreds of supporters. Corbyn condemned the current government for continuing to give tax hand-outs to the rich whilst schools were being starved of funds. Making reference to the two thousand …

During the summer, UNISON conducted a survey of members working at Sandwell Children’s Trust after numerous members had raised concerns around workloads, stress levels, oppressive management and ultimately the service provided to Sandwell’s vulnerable children. A third of our members responded. Despite the Trust launching in April the results show serious issues remain to be …

UNISON members going through restructures in Housing Choice and Business Excellence will no longer have to undertake competitive interviews for future positions where there are more posts than people for the graded ring-fenced positions. In addition, staff who currently have permanent positions will remain permanent employees if they end up in one of the two-year …